My Bratty Wife
Chapter 39 - Thirty Nine

Chapter 39: Chapter Thirty Nine

As dusk painted the sky in hues of orange and purple, Suzy clutched the finished guest list and the report for the ball. "Doris," she called out, her voice echoing through the vast hallway.

"Yes, Milady?" Doris appeared beside her.

"Is Ryan in his study?" Suzy inquired, a flicker of nervousness in her voice.

Doris’ lips curved into a knowing smile. "Indeed, Milady. It hasn’t been long His Grace entered ."

Suzy’s stomach did a little flip-flop. Not wanting to repeat the lingerie incident, a memory that still made her cheeks burn, she hurried towards her room.

"Quick, Doris! Help me change," she pleaded, divesting herself of her nightdress in a flurry of activity. "Something appropriate, but not... well, you know."

Doris chuckled, her warm brown eyes twinkling with amusement. "Of course, Milady. A simple gown, perhaps?

Reaching the imposing oak door of the study, Suzy hesitated for a moment. The memory of her last barging-in incident, the subsequent scolding, was still fresh in her mind.

Suzy straightened her posture, smoothing out the wrinkles on her dress. This wasn’t the time for second thoughts. Steeling herself, she raised a fist and knocked tentatively.

A deep voice, laced with a hint of irritation, boomed from within. "Enter."

Suzy took a deep breath and pushed the door open, stepping into the dimly lit study.

The first thing that struck her was the unexpected sight of another person in the room. Tall and broad-shouldered, with a familiar mop of black hair, stood none other than Byron, Ryan’s brother.

Suzy’s jaw dropped, surprise momentarily erasing all thoughts of the documents in her hand. "By- Byron?" she stammered, her carefully rehearsed entrance completely forgotten.

Byron, turning towards her, flashed a disarming smile. "Duchess" he said, his voice warm and friendly. "Good to see you again."

Suzy felt a blush creep up her neck. This was not what she expected. She wasn’t prepared to face Ryan’s brother, especially not in the midst of what seemed like an important conversation. "I... I wasn’t aware you were here."

Byron flashed her a dazzling smile, completely ignoring the tension radiating from his brother. "Just a little brotherly chat, wouldn’t you agree, Ryan?" he said, directing a playful jab towards Ryan, who simply grunted in response.

Suzy cleared her throat, forcing herself to step into the room. "Actually," she began, her voice regaining its composure, "I brought the final guest list and the report for the ball."

As Ryan gazed up from his desk, he was struck by the vision that stood before him. Suzy entered the study with a quiet confidence, her presence commanding attention without demanding it. Her light dress, a soft whisper of fabric, draped elegantly across her curves, accentuating her slender figure without revealing too much.

His eyes were drawn to her fiery auburn curls, which cascaded down her back like a waterfall of sunset hues. The loose locks framed her heart-shaped face, highlighting her bright brown eyes and the smattering of freckles across her nose and cheeks.

Ryan finally composed himself, his gaze flitting between her and the documents in her hands. "Leave them on the desk, Duchess."

Suzy placed the items on the designated spot, her eyes lingering on Ryan for a fleeting moment. His usual coldness seemed a touch... muted today. Perhaps the presence of his brother had softened his demeanor.

"Ah, yes, the ball," Byron chimed in, his eyes twinkling. "The one where you’ll be dazzling everyone with your wit and charm, of course, Duchess?"

Suzy’s cheeks flushed a rosy pink, but she met Byron’s gaze with a playful defiance. "I wouldn’t want to steal your thunder, Byron," she countered, a hint of a smile playing on her lips. "Everyone knows you’re the life of the ball".

Byron’s laughter boomed across the room, throwing his head back dramatically. "Alas, Duchess! You wound me! Though," he added, lowering his voice to a conspiratorial whisper, "between you and me, I wouldn’t mind a partner who could hold her own in a witty duel."

Suzy, caught off guard by his playful behavior, couldn’t help but let out a surprised laugh. The sound, light and airy, filled the room unlike the usual stoic atmosphere. Ryan, momentarily taken aback, found himself stealing a glance at her. As Suzy laughed, a pair of dimples emerged on her cheeks, a sight that momentarily startled him. He hadn’t realized... well, he hadn’t exactly been paying close attention.

Byron, ever the opportunist, seized the moment. He leaned even closer, his voice dropping to a stage whisper. "See, Ryan? This is precisely what I was saying! A touch of laughter brightens the place up considerably, wouldn’t you agree?"

Ryan, quickly regaining his composure, cleared his throat with a forced cough. "That’s enough, Byron," he muttered, his voice laced with a hint of amusement despite himself. His gaze flickered back to Suzy, his expression returning to its usual stoicism.

"Duchess," he said curtly, "that will be all for tonight. You may leave."

"Hold on a moment, dear brother!" Byron exclaimed, a mischievous glint in his eye. "Surely the Duchess wouldn’t mind indulging us with a cup of wine before she departs? Unless, of course," he continued, his voice dropping to a teasing murmur, "you don’t want her to?"

He winked at Suzy, his playful energy very infectious that Suzy found a smile tugging at the corners of her lips.

Before Ryan could unleash a withering retort, Suzy surprised them both. "Actually," she interjected, her voice surprisingly steady, "a glass of wine sounds delightful. Thank you for the invitation, Byron."

Ryan’s jaw clenched, and Byron raised an eyebrow in amusement. This was unexpected.

He opened his mouth to protest, but Byron beat him to the punch. "Excellent choice, Duchess!" he declared, clapping his hands together with enthusiasm. "A touch of wine will loosen everyone up, wouldn’t you agree, Ryan?"

Ryan glared at his brother, then back at Suzy. She held his gaze, her chin held high, a challenge glinting in her brown eyes. For a long moment, their eyes locked in a silent battle of wills.

With confidence, she walked towards a side table and poured herself a generous amount of wine into a crystal glass.

Ryan’s jaw clenched. "Are you going to drink that?" he asked, his voice laced with a hint of disbelief.

Suzy raised an eyebrow, her smile widening. "Why not?" she countered, meeting his gaze with defiance. "It is wine, is it not?"

Byron watched the exchange with amusement, a silent plea forming in his eyes. "Must they fight over everything?" he thought to himself, shaking his head in mock despair.

Ryan, momentarily disarmed by Suzy’s unexpected assertiveness, opened his mouth to argue further. "Well then," Byron chimed in, clapping his hands together, "shall we leave the discussion for tomorrow? I wouldn’t want to be a bother any longer."

"It’s a shame that you’re leaving now but...," she replied, a hint of amusement dancing in her voice. "It was... pleasant seeing you again."

Byron bowed playfully. "The pleasure was entirely mine, Duchess. Until next time!"

With a flourish, he swept out of the study, leaving Suzy and Ryan alone in the tense silence.

Suddenly, Ryan’s voice cut through the quiet. "The wine," he said, his tone clipped and curt. "It has a high concentration. You can’t drink it. Put it down."

Suzy bristled at his condescending tone. "If you can drink it," she countered, her voice laced with defiance, "then why can’t I?"

Before Ryan could respond, she reached for her glass and took a large gulp. She winced as the harsh liquid burned its way down her throat.

Spitting it out with a splutter, she coughed and sputtered, tears welling up in her eyes. "Ugh! What is this?!" she cried, her voice hoarse. "How can a human being drink this? It burns!"

Scrambling for relief, she searched the desk for water, her hand knocking over a crystal inkwell in her haste. "Water!" she gasped, her eyes watering from the fumes rising from the spilled ink.

Ryan, his face laced with annoyance, finally rose from his chair. He strode towards the nearby cabinet and retrieved a crystal decanter filled with clear liquid. "Here," he said, his voice gruff but not unkind, offering her the decanter.

Suzy snatched the decanter and gulped down the cool water, gasping in relief as the burning sensation subsided. "This isn’t the same as the wine Doris brought me the other day." She mumbled through gritted teeth as she wiped her mouth with the back of her hand.

Ryan watched her with an unreadable expression. "What wine?" He asked. Suzy, suddenly aware of her mistake and the precarious situation she had placed herself in, met his gaze. She just made it known to him that she has been drinking.

"I, uh..." she stammered, her voice cracking under his scrutiny. "I apologize. I... I believe I’ll retire for the evening."

With a hasty curtsy, she practically fled the study, leaving Ryan alone with the remnants of the disrupted evening.